Cellular box



June 221, 1943. H. JQKRAME R 2,322,239

' CELLULAR Box I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan) 28. 1942 Patented June 22, 1943 UNITED V STATES PATENT OFFICE Applicationslzllilg. No. 428,597

The invention aims to provide a new and improved cellular box designed primarily for shipping small chicks, poults, and the like, the construction being such that the entire box, with the exception of its cover, is formed froma single blank of any desired sheet material, the customary corrugated cardboard in which a corrugated sheet is fastened between two plain sheets, being preferably used.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cellular box of the general type in which the upper edges of the internal partitions project through slots in the cover to space one box from another for air circulation, this general form of box being improved by the provision of notches in the projecting -upper edges of the partitions, which notches receive the cords, wires or other ties used in holding the box cover in place, the notches thus not only overcoming the necessity of passing the ties over the projecting partition edges, but serving also to hold said ties against slipping, even thoughthey may become greatly loosened in transit.

A still further aim is to provide a construction which is exceptionally simple and inexpensive, yet well adapted to fulfill the function for which it is designed.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in .the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accom plished by reference to the accompanying drawmgs.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one of the boxes and its cover with the latter tied in place in readiness for shipment.

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing one tied and will be rather specifically described, with the understanding, however, that variations may be made within the scope of the invention as claimed. While conventional corrugated cardboard of the construction diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 6 is by preference employed, it will be understood that I am not restricted to this material and I have, therefore disregarded same in the other views.

The box construction can best be understood by first obtaining an understanding of the construction of the blank from which it is made. Therefore, reference will first be directed to Fig. 5. In this view, four bottom-forming-sections I, 1 l and F are shown, said sections occupying the four corners of a rectangle and having their outer edges disposed along the sides of said rectangle. These outer edges of each bottom-forming-section are integral with rectangular wallforming-sections, there being two of these wallforming-sections 8 and 8' associated with each bottom-forming-section. ing-sections extend between and are integrally connected with the bottom-forming -sections I, 1, l and 1. Two of these partition-formin sections are denoted at 9 and the other two at 9. One of the sections 9 extends between and is joined to. the inner edges of the bottom-formingsections I and I and the other partition-forming section 9 extends between and is joined to the inner edges of the bottom-forming-sections l and I One of the partition sections 9 extends between and is joined to the inner edges of the bottom-fonning-sections 1 and 1; and the other partition-forming-section 9" extends between and is joined-to the inner edges of the bottom-forming-sections 1 and l The outer ends of the wall-forming-sections 8' are provided with integral flaps I 0 for use in securing these walls to the walls 8* when both sets of these walls are upwardly folded at right angles to the bottomforming-sections I, l 'l and 1. The inner ends of all of the side-wall-forming sections 8 and 8 are provided with integral flaps II for use in securing them to the outer ends of the four two-ply partitions which are formed by upwardly folding the 'partition-forming-sections 9 and 8 into right-angular relation with the bottom-formingsectionsland folding said sections 9 and 9 upon themselves. The inner' edges of the partitionforming-sections 9' are provided with integral flaps l2 for use in securing the inner ends of the four two-ply partitions to each other. For purposes of illustration, along every line which is to be a fold line, I have illustrated a crease, a number of which are identified at l3. However, if the blank is to be machine-folded, or folded with the aid of any guiding means for insuring straight fold lines, the creases may of course be dispensed with.

The width of each of 'thepartition-formingfict ns S and 9" is somewhat more than twice Four partition-formthe width of any of the side wall-forming-sections 8 and 8*, in order that the upper portions of the two-ply partitions formed by said sections 9 and 9 may upwardly project through slots M in a suitably flanged cover I5. As it is not necessary that the partitions project throughout their lengths through the slots 14, the opposite edge portions of the partition-forming-sections 9 and 9' may be notched as at 16 to shorten the upwardly projecting edge portions of the two-ply artitions. Between the opposed notches l6 of each partition-forming-section 9 and 9, I form a slot H which extends across the fold line or crown line upon which said section 9 or 9 is to be folded, said slots forming notches in the projecting upper edges of the partitions to receive the cords, wires or other ties [8 used in securing the cover l5 upon the box, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. There is thus no necessity of passing. the ties l8 over the projecting portions of the partitions, and more over, 'said notches hold the ties in place even should they becom severely loosened in transit. The projecting partition portions serve to hold the boxes in spaced relation when they are stacked upon each other, as illustrated in Fig. 2, insuring proper ventilation through the openings 19 formed in the cover. Other ventilating openings 20 are formed in the wall-forming-sections 8, 8 etc., and in the partition-forming-sections 9 and 9.

When the blank of Fig. 5 is folded to relatively position the various elements as shown in Fig. 3, staples 2| are used to secure the flaps l0 against the side Walls 8*; other staples 22 are passe-d through the flaps I l and through the outer ends of the two-ply partitions between said flaps. thus not only securing the side walls 8 and 8 to the partitions, but holding both plies of these partitions against relative movements with respect to each other. Additional staples 23 are used to secure the flaps l2 on the inner ends of two of the partitions to the inner ends of the other two partitions. These staples pass through the flaps I2 and through both plies of the intervening partitions and it will thus be seen that both plies of all partitions are again securely fastened together. The whole assembly forms a four-cell box in which all of the cells are rigidly connected with each other and thus held against any relative movements in any directions.

The box may be easily, rapidly and inexpensively manufactured and is well adapted for the shipping of small chicks, poults and the like, particular attention being invited to the fact that there are no cracks adjacent the edges of the cell bottoms in which the toes of the chicks or the like may become wedged and injured.

The details disclosed are preferable but attention is again invited to the possibility of making variations within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A cellular rectangular box comprising four rectangular bottom sections jointly occupying a rectangle; four partitions perpendicular to said bottom sections, said partitions radiating from the box center and each comprising two vertical plies secured against each other, said plies being integrally joined to each other at their upper edges and integrally joined at their lower edges to the inner edges of said bottom sections; eight rectangular side walls perpendicular to said bottom sections and having their lower edges integrally joined to the outer edges of said bottom SCL'tiOI'IS; four vertical flaps at the four corners of the box, integrally joined to certain of said side walls and secured to the others of said side walls; eight other vertical flaps at the junctures of said side walls with the outer sides of said two-ply partitions, integral with some of these elements and secured to the others thereof; and four additional vertical flaps integral with the inner ends of certain of said partition plies and se cured to the others of said plies; the whole providing a one-piece four-cell box in which all cells are held against relative movements in all directions.

2. A cellular rectangular box comprising four rectangular bottom sections jointly occupying a rectangle; four partitions perpendicular to said bottom sections, said partitions radiating from the box center and each comprising two vertical plies secured against each other, said plies being integrally joined to each other at their upper edges and integrally joined at their lower edges to the inner edges of said bottom sections; eight rectangular side walls perpendicular to said bottom sections and having their lower edges integrally joined to the outer edges of said bottom sections; four vertical flaps at the four corners of. the box, integrally joined to certain of said side walls and secured to the others of said side walls; eight other vertical flaps at the junctures of said side walls with the outer ends of said two-ply partitions, these eight flaps be--- ing integrally joined to the inner ends of said side walls and lying against opposite sides of said two-ply partitions; fasteners passing through said eight flaps and through both plies of said two-ply partitions and holding all of these elements against relative movements in all directions; and four additional vertical flaps integral with the inner ends of certain of said partition plies and secured to the others of said plies; the whole providing a one-piece four-cell box in which all cells are held against relative move ments in all directions.

- 3. A structure as specified in claim 1; said twoply partitions being taller than said side walls to project through slots in a box cover, the upper edges of said partitions having notches to receive ties used for holding the cover on the box.

4. A blank for constructing a rectangular fourcell box, comprising four rectangular bottomforming-sections' occupying the four corners of a rectangle and having their eight outer edges disposed along the sides of said rectangle; eight rectangular wall forming sections integrally joined to said outer edges of said bottom-forming-sections and adapted to form outer walls for the four box cells when folded upwardly at right angles to said bottom-forming-sections; four rectangular partition-forming-sections between said bottom-forming-sections and integrally joined to the inner edges of the latter, said partition-forming-sections being adapted to form four two-ply partitions at right angles to each other when upwardly folded at right angles to said bottom-forming-sections and folded upon themselves along ridge lines; four flaps for use in connecting said outer side walls with each other at the four corners of thebox; other flaps for use in connecting said outer side walls with the outer ends of said two-ply partitions; and additional flaps for use in connecting the inner ends of said two-ply partitions with each other, all of said flaps being integral with adjacent portions of the blank 5. A blank for constructing a rectangular fourgell box, comprising four rectangular bottomforming-sections occupyingthe four corners of a rectangle and having their eight outer edges disposed along the sides of said rectangle; eight rectangular wall forming section's integrally joined to said outer edges of said bottom-forming-sections and adapted to form outer walls for the four box cells when folded upwardly at right angles to said bottom-forming-sections; four rectangular partition-forming-sections between said bottom forming sections and integrally joined to the inner edges of the latter sald partition-forming sections being adapted to form fourtwo-ply partitions at right angles to each other when upwardly folded at right angles to said bottom-fonning-sections and folded upon themselves along ridge lines; four flaps for use in connecting said outer side walls with each other at the four corners of the box, said flaps being integrally joined to the wall-forming-sections at two opposite sides of said rectangle; other flaps for use in connecting said side walls withthe outer ends of said two-ply partitions, these flaps being integral with the wall-forming-sections at all four sides of said rectangle; and additional flaps for use in connecting the inner ends of said two-ply partitions with each other,

- these additional flaps being integral with the two opposed inner edges of two of said partitionforming-sections.

HENRY J. KRAMER. 

